Folding top



Dec. 18, 1934. 1. A. OLIVIER 1,984,695

FOLDING TOP Filed March 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fz//e dln/er ORNEY- Dec. 18,v 1934. l J, A. OLIVIER 598495 FOLDING TOP Filed mmh 18, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 z-E INVENTOR ATTORNEY 5' J. A. OLIVIER FOLDING TOP Dec. 18, 1934.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed MSLICh 18, 1931 ImIIIn INVENTOR @les OZz'VAfr BMALQZL/w ATTORNEYS.

J. A. OLIVIER FOLDING TOP 4 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Filed March 18, 1931 ne l 45 V//M' INVENTOR. y J/fs /7 Olaf/er BY 77W ATTORN EYSr Patented Dec. 18, 1934 PATE? OFFICE FOLDINGv TOP Jules A. Olivier, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Dietrich, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 18, 1931, Serial No. 523,401

7 Claims.

The general character of the present invention being indicated by the above title, it may be further stated that this novel top comprises, in addition to a collapsible rearward portion forwardly terminating in a transverse bow, a specially constructed forward portion which is collapsible relatively to said bow and is movable therewith to a rearward position of disuse; and the present invention relates more particularli7 to an improved construction of said forward portion.

That is to say, the exact construction of the mentioned rearward portion being comparatively immaterial to the present invention, the latter should be understood to relate more particularly to a novel frame construction for the forward portion of a comparatively long ton-such as a top suitable to a seven-passenger car; and the present invention may be understood to include not only (l) novel three-section side members, normally extending in an essentially horizontal plane between the mentioned main bow and the frame of a windshield or a transverse member engageable with said frame, but also 2) special means for connecting parallel arms comprised in the mentioned three-section side members, or any preferred arms, with said bow, and also (3) novel means for establishing and maintaining a desired rigid relationship between Said arms and toggle-acting sections such as those of the respective side members.

Other objects of the present invention, including (Ll) an interconnection of two of the mentioned sections, or any equivalent sections, by a pivot remote from the end of an arm section, and (5) the use of a novel latch device, including cam features, for a rigid retention of the mentioned sections in a desired end-to-end 40 relationship,-may be best appreciated from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a partial top plan view, showing the top frame as erected-parts being broken away and a preferred relationship to doors being indicated.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the front section of the top as partially collapsed or incompletely extended and ignoring slight angles between some parts.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View, with parts broken away and the `top shown as completely erected.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, taken similarly to Fig. 3, but with additional parts broken away and parts shown as in a position of partial collapse or erection.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view, taken substantially as indicated `by the arrow 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively detail sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 7-'7 and 10 8 8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially as indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 1. 5":

Fig. l0 is a detail plan view, taken substantially 1 as indicated by the arrow 10 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1l is a sectional detail view, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an elevational detail View, taken as indicated by line 12-12 of Fig. 10. 20

Fig. 13 is an elevational detail view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 13 of Fig. 1.

Fig. la is a detail plan View, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 14 of Fig. 13. 5

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respectively vertical 2 sectional detail views, taken on the lines l5-15, 16-16 and 1'7-1'7 of Fig. 14.

Referring rst to the more general features illustrated, a seven-passenger car is shown in 3l) ber of suitable form, to a windshield frame W. 40,

The rear section R of this top is shown as collapsible and as comprising a rearwardly inclined bow element 10, which has pivoted thereto-a forwardly inclined subsidiary bow element 11,--the main intermediate bow B being shown as provided with rearwardly curved extensions 12, pivoted at 13, and with an S brace 14. The latter is employed normally to hold the last-mentioned parts in their erected positions, in a known manner, and although the indicated construction of O the rear portion R is such as to permit a collapse thereof relatively to the rear body section S, the present invention should be understood to relate more particularly to the frame of forward section F,-so collapsible relatively to the main intermediate bow member B as to be movable not only to and from said intermediate bow member but movable therewith to and from an extreme rear position of complete collapse of the illustrated top. For the purposes of the present description, the intermediate main bow B may, however, be regarded as stationary.

The forward top section F is shown as comprising, in addition to a front transverse member 15, a pair of three-section side frame members. These may each include a rearwardly disposed arm section 16, or 16', normally substantially,

parallel and substantially horizontal, and also toggle-acting interconnected additional sections 17, 18 and 17', 18',-these being preferably intere connected by means such as a vertical pin' or pins 19, 20 and 19', 20' and pvotally connected to the transverse front frame element 15 by additional pivots 21, 21'; and especial emphasis is herein placed upon novel connecting means provided at or near the respective ends of the arm sections 16, 16',-the forward ends thereof being preferably inter-connected by means such as a transverse subsidiary bow 22 and the inner toggle sections 17, 17' being pivotally secured thereto by means comprising vertical pivot pins 23, 23', spaced from the ends of said arms.

As best shown in Figs. 3-7 inclusive, the respective arm sections 16, 16' are preferably connected with substantially vertical portions of the bow B by means of special links 24, 25 and 24', 25'. For the purpose here referred to, each arm section may beu provided withva pivot-carrying plate 26, apertured to receive pins 27, 28, and the bow B mayu be provided with analogous pivotcarrying plates 29, apertured at theiry respective ends to receive pins 30, 31. The respective links 24 and 25 (and 24', 25') are shown as normally disposed substantially at right angles to one another, the links 24, 24 each overlying an arm lsection 16 yor 16', in parallel relationship thereto, whereas the links 2 5, 25' extend vertically, in substantial parallelism with corresponding portions of the bow B. The brackets 26 and 29 will be understood to serve incidentally for a reinforcing and facing effect; and the former is shown as provided with upstanding lugs 32, suitably spaced to prevent lateral displacement of the inner ends of the arms 16, 16', in the region of their engagement with the bow B,-a cushioning insert 33 being preferably provided either in the end of each arm section 16, 16' or in or on the cooperative surface of the bow B, and the` link 25 soproportioned relatively to the link 24 as to swing from a substantially vertical upright position to a substantially vertical Vdek pendent position during a movement of the forward end of the link 24 through an arc of'substantially 90 degrees, as implied by the showing in Fig. 4.

It'will be obvious that the construction last described might be used in connection with a relatively short forward topportion, such as a forward portion terminating in a transverse element equivalent to the subsidiary bow 22; but, in order to provide a forward section adequate to use upon a seven-passenger touring car, or the like, employing the mentioned toggle-acting sections in connection with the arm sections 16,' 16', and

`regardless of the specific mechanism employed movably to secure the inner or rearward ends of the latter, it is found desirable to provide the arm sections 16, 16' and the adjacent toggle acting sections 17, 17' respectively with overlapping 'extensionsv 34 and 35,-the latter beingl shown as skeletonized and as providing support both for a cam-acting latch element 36 and for securing means in the form of a thumb screw 37.

The intended mode of erection of the described top having been indicated in connection with the description of the various parts thereof, a diagonal-cut face 38 at the forward end of extension 34 will be understood to be engageable with a cooperating face 39 at the rearward end of the extension 35,-the latter being pivotally connected with the corresponding arm section by a pin 23 or 23', which may be regarded as defining the inner end of each arm extension 34.

Each surface 39 is shown as provided with a cushioning element 40, and corresponding cushioningelements 41, 42` are shown at the forward ends of the sectionsj18, 18' and at the mutually engageable ends of the toggle-acting sections 17, 1,8v and` 17', 18'. .These cushioning elements are intended to be so formed and disposed as to be i placed 4.under some compression incidentally to the straightening of the angle between the sections 17, 18 and 17', 18',-whereby they are respectively brought into substantial parallelism with the top edges of the doors D; and the completion of this straightening movement is facilitated by the special construction of the latch element 36, Vas best shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The latch element `36 is shown as having the form of a lever including a longer arm (to which the lead-line of numeral 36 extends) pivoted at 43 upon the extension 35, and as shaped to include also a cam-acting arm 44, having the form of a hook with its upper surface tapered toward the end as shown in Fig. 13, which is engageable with a circumferential slot in a dowel pin 45' set in the top of the post P' and extending `upwardly into a suitable opening or socket in the forward end of arm 16'. The end of the hook bears against the inner surface of dowel socket as shown in Fig. 14 and locks the members 16', 17' in rigid alignment. 'I'he tapering face on the`hook member 44', co-operating with the slot-` ted dowel 45', cams the hook into tight engagement with the dowel and also draws the arms 16' and 17' into tight engagement with the top of post P'. plete straightening of the joints between the toggie-acting sections 17, 18 and 17', 18', said joints preferably including a plate 46 through which the mentioned pivots 19, 20 (or 19', 20') vertically extend, may be effected by pressing the lever arm of the described latch element into substantial parallelism with the adjacent' arm 16, or 16'; but the relationship between the co operating faces 38 and 39, provided by the arm extension 34 and the adjacent toggle-acting section 17 or17', is intended to be such as to produce a slight outwardly convex relationship therebetween, to contribute to the rigidity of the described organization; and the mentioned thumbscrew 37', or its equivalent, may be relied upon to secure the mentioned parts in their indicated relationship,-it may be turned down through threaded opening in lug 48' to bear against a depression in the enlarged portion of the lower arm 36' which is held from lateral displacement by the lug 47'. The skeletonized extension 35' of the arm 17 is of angle cross section as indicated in Figs. 14-17, and its lateral flange is adapted to fit in a suitable rabbet in the under side of the arm 16 and thus lend rigidity to the joint.

Although any preferred means may be used releasably to secure the front transverse member 15 to the windshield frame W, it is suggested in It will be understood that a com- Fig. 9 that use be made, for this purpose, of a known latch organization comprising a lever 49', pivoted at 50 to a bracket 51' on said transverse element,-a short arm 52' of said lever being in turn pivotally connected with a hook 53', and said hook being engageable with a cooperating lever element 54' secured to the windshield frame.

The intended mode of erection of the described novel top having been indicated in connection with the description of the various parts thereof, it will be understood that a collapse of said top may be effected by a reversal of the operations referred to. That is to say, the thumb screws 37 being loosened, and the latches 36 released, and the toggle-acting sections may be drawn together substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2,--the forward ends of the arm sections 16, 16' being thereafter lifted in such manner as to lower the inner or rear ends thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4; and a nal collapse of the rearward portion R, in case said rearward portion is made collapsible, may be effected by an upward breaking of the brace 14, or its equivalent, in such manner that all parts may be swung to an out-of-the-way position to the rear of the body section S.

It may be noted that the opening beneath the respective three-section side members, normally extending in substantial parallelism with the tops of the doors D, D', is favorable to the use, in connection with the described top, of windows vertically or otherwise movable from within the mentioned doors and adapted to cooperate with a removable or other post P', shown in Fig. 3 as disposed above the hinge post P; but the use and construction of this optional intermediate post P should be understood to be immaterial to the present invention,it being the subject of an independent application, now Patent No. 1,950,742 filed Jan. 24, 1931; and although but a limited numberof alternative details have been suggested herein, it should be understood not only that various features of the present invention might be independently employed but also that numerous modifications thereof might easily be devised by skilled workers, if informed of the foregoing,--without departure from the scope of the present invention, as the latter is indicated above and in the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a vehicle top of the class described, the combination of an intermediate upright post having a slotted dowel projecting from the top thereof, a sectional roof supporting member extending over the top of said post and having a joint adjacent the top thereof, one of said sections having a socket for receiving the dowel on said post, and the adjoining section having an extension overlapping said first extension and pivotally connected thereto at a point remote from the end thereof and said socket, a lever pivotally mounted in said overlapping extension and having a cam portion engageable with said slotted dowel in said socket for securing said sections rigidly in alignment and to said post.

2. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, and a cam lever on said projection for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other.

3. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, a cam lever on said projection for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other, and locking means for retaining said lever in fixed position after said elements are in extension of each other.

. 4. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, a pillar for supporting one of said elements, an extension on said pillar, and a cam lever on said projection engageable with said extension for locking said elements thereto and for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other.

5. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, a pillar for supporting one of said elements, an eX- tension on said pillar, a cam lever on said projection engageable with said extension for locking said elements thereto and for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other, and locking means for retaining said lever in fixed position after said elements are in extension of each other.

6. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, a pillar for supporting one of said elements, a slotted extension on said pillar, and a cam lever on said projection engageable with said slotted extension for locking said elements thereto and for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other.

7. A foldable top for a vehicle body including, in combination, a main bow, a transverse front member, elements on each side of the body interconnecting said bow and front member, a projection on one of said elements pivoted to the other of said elements interjacent its ends, a pillar for supporting one of said elements in which an aperture is provided, and a slotted extension on said pillar projectable into said aperture, and a cam lever on said projection engageable with said slotted extension for locking said elements thereto and for forcing said elements into a position of extension with each other.

JULES A. OLIVIER. 

